BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

14/11/2007

Lukashenko Castigates Cabinet

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko expressed his dissatisfaction with his cabinet yesterday in strong words. Formally, the growth of the negative foreign trade balance was the cause of the display, which has reached $1.5 billion, twice the amount as at the same time last year.

A number of social benefits are due to be cancelled in Belarus on December 17, a move that will make the lives of the handicapped, veterans, retirees and students more difficult, in spite of Lukashenko's motto "Belarus is a state for the people." There has already been fierce opposition to it and observers have speculated that the real meaning of Lukashenko's ire is an attempt to deflect blame for the unpopular decision off Lukashenko himself.

The West too has resumed its criticism of Lukashenko, after some pause. The United States has introduced a draft resolution in the UN General Assembly condemning the Belarusian regime for violations of human rights and persecution of the press and political opposition. The measure was supported by 32 countries in addition to the U.S., including EU countries, Japan and Canada.

In addition, the U.S. Treasury Department has frozen the U.S. bank accounts of Belneftekhim. Its U.S. Subsidiary Belneftekhim USA was also affected, as were its offices in Russia, Germany, Latvia and China, which could not improve the Belarusian president's mood.

Source:

http://www.kommersant.com/p824965/Belarus/